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BullGuard Security Centre

The risks of rooting your Android phone

You’ve got your smartphone. It’s new, shiny and neat. You can go online from it while you’re out and about and download cool apps to keep you company whenever you get bored. But can you download any app you want? What about custom themes? And did you ever feel like altering or replacing system applications and settings on your phone because they’re not so user friendly? Well, the thing is you can’t do whatever you want with your smartphone. For security reasons, phone manufacturers and mobile network operators impose software limitations. However, these limitations can be overruled by rooting your Android phone, although it is not advisable. Especially if you don’t have antivirus for Android installed, to protect you from mobile malware.

A lot of people are talking about the freedom rooting your phone gives you, without necessarily stressing the risks you face by doing so. Here’s a brief overview of the advantages and disadvantages of this process. In case you decide to go for it, it’s best you take an informed decision for your own mobile security.

First off, what’s rooting?

Rooting is a process that allows you to attain root access to the Android operating system code (the equivalent term for Apple devices id jailbreaking). It gives you privileges to modify the software code on the device or install other software that the manufacturer wouldn’t normally allow you to. And for good mobile security reasons: they don’t want users to make modifications to the phones that could result in accidents beyond repair; it is easier for them to offer support if they allow users to only use the same unmodified version of the software. But tech savvy users have already developed rooting methods, which vary depending on device. They are available on the web, and more and more Android users are resorting to them because of the powerful perks they provide, such as:

full customization for just about every theme/graphic

download of any app, regardless of the app store they’re posted on

extended battery life and added performance

updates to the latest version of Android if your device is outdated and no longer updated by the manufacturer

But if you do it improperly, it can create havoc. And even done properly, if your phone doesn’t have proper antivirus protection for Android, rooting leaves your device open to all sorts of malware.

With great power comes great responsibility

Now, say all these advantages have convinced you to root your Android device. But you can do it at your own expense, risking your own mobile security. Here’s why:

1. You can turn your smartphone into a brick. Well, not literally, but if you goof up the rooting process, meaning the code modifications, your phone software can get so damaged that your phone will basically be as useless as a brick.

2. Your phone warranty turns void. It’s legal to root your phone; however, if you do it,your device gets straight out of warranty. Say you root your phone and some time after that, you experience a phone malfunction – hardware or software related. Because of the Android rooting, the warranty is no longer valid, and the manufacturer will not cover the damages.

3. Malware can easily breach your mobile security. Gaining root access also entails circumventing the security restrictions put in place by the Android operating system. Which means worms, viruses, spyware and Trojans can infect the rooted Android software if it’s not protected by effective mobile antivirus for Android. There are several ways these types of malware get on your phone: drive-by downloads, malicious links, infected apps you download from not so reputable app stores. They take over your phone and make it act behind your back: forward your contact list to cybercrooks, sniff your e-mails, send text messages to premium numbers, racking up your phone, and collect personal data such as passwords, usernames, credit card details that you use while socializing, banking and shopping from your smartphone.

Mobile security advice

If you still want to root your device, make sure you research the process very well, as it differs depending on the smartphone type and brand. It’s better you ask for expert advice on dedicated forums, or better yet, ask a tech savvy person to root it for you. All these in order to ensure you don’t turn your device into a brick.